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Term-time holiday ban challenged

Last weekend saw the launch of Parents Want a Say, a new group campaigning for a judicial review of the ban on term-time holidays.

Started by a mum of three from Bath, it has already won the support of 200,000 other parents who have signed its petition and intends to take legal action against what it calls "a breach of the human right to family life".

Education Secretary Michael Gove took away head-teachers' right to grant a discretionary 10 days' holiday a year to families in 'special circumstances'. Parent can be fined or even put imprisoned under the new rules.

Says the Parents Want a Say website: "The cost of a family holiday during the school holidays is an expense many working families simply can't afford. Furthermore, it is not simply a matter of cost for many families; most businesses can't allow large numbers of their staff to take leave at the same time either."

It goes on to point out that the hardest-hit by the policy are public sector staff including those in the military, NHS doctors and nurses, care workers, transport workers and the police.

Among those who have signed the petition is Liberal Democrat MP John Leech, who campaigned to open up family courts.